Software Testing Certifications - How to Choose
There are many software testing certifications available, but how can you choose which one is best for you? Here are some tips on what to look out for when selecting which software testing certification you will study for.
Some software testing certifications are available only in certain countries. When we look on the internet, we can see many different certifications, but on closer inspection, some are really focussed on a particular country. For example, the Certified Software Test Professional (CSTP) qualification is a U.S based certification and it is only available in the U.S.
You may need to attend training courses to sit the exam. While this could be a good thing if your company is able to send you on a training course, but if you are paying the bills yourself, it can get expensive. Some certifications allow you to self study or study online.
If you are thinking to specialise in the testing field, it would be better to select a certification that offers different levels. When first starting out, a basic or foundation level certification is fine, but as you advance to test lead or test manager, obtaining an advanced certification will help your career progression.
Check if the software testing certification requires work experience. Obviously if you are new to testing, it will not be possible to obtain a certification that requires a year or more of work experience in testing activities.
Some software testing certifications expire. That means that your qualification will no longer be valid after some period of time. You will then need to potentially study again and resit an exam.
A final point to check is what software testing certifications are asked for in the area that you would like to work in. If you would like to work in Europe, it is a good idea to check the job advertisements for testing jobs in Europe and see which software testing certifications they mention in the ads.
